Word forming device



Aug. 26, 1958 J. w. DONALDSON 2,848,824

WORD FORMING DEVICE:v

Filed April 5. 1955 i-:WEC DE FGHIJI @lm @WODEFGMW United States Patent 2,848,824 WORD FoRMiNG DEVICE Jay W. Donaldson, Milford, Iowa Application April 5, 1955, serial No. 499,333

z claims. (c1. 354-75) My invention relates to a word forming device for solvingcrossword puzzles and the like, and more par ticularly, to a device for aiding rapid determination of words by permitting ready shifting and combining of the letters of the alphabet.

Crossword puzzles are a common feature of most modern newspapers. One of the ditculties in solving these puzzles is the visualization of possible words that might iit the hint or clues provided. It has occured to me that a word forming device which permitted one to rapidly combine, `shift and recombine letters of the alphabet would materially vspeed up the solutionof these puzzles. n It is aeprincipal object of the invention to provide a word forming device forrapidly shifting and combining the letters ofl the alphabet. Y Y

It is a' further Aobject of the invention to provide a wordforming device which permits one to rapidly determine appropriate words for crossword puzzles and the like, and which is of a size and construction to readily fit into a pocketbook, wallet, or coat pocket.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a word forming device composed of relatively few and simple elements that cooperate to permit one to form words speedily and edectively.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, I provide a holder comprising relatively flat holder and cover elements, and a plurality of parallel strips of relatively stili paper, cardboard, or the like, carried by and slidably mounted in said holder. Said holder element may comprise a rectangular or otherwise shaped piece of cardboard or the like formed with a plurality of paired perforations, each of said strips of paper being slidably received in a pair of perforations. Preferably, the perforations of each pair of perforations are positioned adjacent the periphery or opposite edges of the holder element, and each strip of paper passes from the outer or rear side of the holder element, through the'lower perforation, across the inner or front side of the holder element, through the upper perforation, and outwardly of the outer or rear sideof said holder element. The sides or faces of said strips of paper facing away from the inner or front side of said holder element have the letters of the alphabet applied thereto in the usual order. Said cover element may comprise a piece of cardboard or the like shaped to correspond to the shape of said holder element, and is positioned adjacent the inner or front surface of said holder element to conceal a portion of said strips. Said cover element is formed with perforations aligned with each of said strips and of a size to permit one letter at a time to be observed. Preferably, the perforations of the cover element are disposed in a straight line. By merely sliding the strips up and down to exposeidiierent letters at the respective perforations, one may rapidly combine, shift and recombine letters of the alphabet to arrive at sought after words.

Other objects, uses and advantages will -be obvious or portions of the strips.

PE become apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan View of one form of the device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, with the holder and cover elements opened up, and the staples and some of the elongate strips omitted for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating an article of manufacture from which another form of the invention may be formed;

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a puzzle, in unsolved and solved condition, respectively, that is of a type which is quickly solved by using my invention.

Reference numeral 10 of Figures 1 and 2 generally indicates one form of my invention including a holder or retainer element 12, a plurality of ribbon-like strips of relatively stiff material generally indicated at 14, and a cover element 16. The elements 12 and 16, together forming a unit which may be termed a holder, may be formed from pieces of cardboard or the like, and the holder element 12 is provided with a plurality of pairs of erforations 18, 20, 22, 24, v26 and 28 forming parallel rows adjacent the upper and lower edges thereof. The strips 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21, which may be formed out of a stiff paper or cardboard, are slidably received in the respective pairs of perforations in the manner shown. said strips 14 extending from the outer or rear side 30 of the holder element through the respective perforations, and across the inner or front side 32 of said holder element. As shown, each of said strips has imprinted there on all of the letters of the alphabet in their usual order. The cover element 16 is placed adjacent the front or inner face of the holder element, thereby concealing portions of said strips, and is formed with a plurality Vof perforations 34 positioned to expose part of the concealed Preferably, perforations 34 are of a size to expose or render visible a single letter at a time, as indicated in Figure l.

The elements forming the device' illustrated in Figures 1 3 may be separately shaped from suitable stiff cardboard or the like, and positioned relative to each other somewhat as shown in the drawing figures. The elements 12 and 16 may be secured together by staples 36, suitable adhesives, or otherwise, though it should be noted that these two elements need be secured together along only one edge of the device.

ln the form shown in Figure 4, the holder and cover elements 12 and 16, and the strips 14 are formed out of the same cardboard or the like blank 40, lines 42 in* dicating the cutting lines for forming the strips 14 and the line 44 indicating the bend or fold line between the elements 12 and 16 for bringing these elements together. The elements 12 and 16 of this embodiment could be held in folded relation by employing one or more staples, suitable adhesives, or the like.

The device 10 is particularly adapted for use with a popular puzzle 'called Cashword, presently found in many newspapers. As illustrated in Figure 5, the puzzle appears in a newspaper in the usual crossword puzzle form with certain of the squares blacked out and small numbers in certain of the other squares, and below the puzzle clues across and clues down are given. In the Cashword puzzle, letters are placed in certain of the empty squares, and these letters, together with the clues, are supposed to suggest one or more words which will include the illustrated letters.

Referring to Figure 5, which illustrates 'a puzzle as published in a newspaper for solving, wherein, for instance, the letter M is supplied on the square bearing the small number 2 in the top row of the puzzle of Figure 5, and the letters L and E are also given where shown in the top row, and assuming that the number 2 ,across clue gives the hint that the word required means measure of distance, one would position the strip 11 so that the letter M Was visible through a perforation 34, and likewise position the strips 15 and 17 so that the letters Land E are visible through the perforations 34 exposing these strips. By moving the strips 13 and 19 upwardly and downwardly to provide various combinations of letters, one may readily arrive at one or more words employing the given letters which have the meaning of the clue. In the present instance, the desired word was miles, as Shown in the completed puzzle illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring to the square bearing the small number 4 in the top row of the puzzle of Figure 5, the letter A is given as part of the answer for the word to be formed of letters that will iit in said top row square and the two squares immediately below it. Assuming that the number 4 down clue hinted rested, as in a chair, one would position the strip 13 so that the letter A was visible, and then slide strips 11 and 15 back and forth until a word or words with this meaning was arrived at.

While the invention has been described in connection with the Cashword puzzle, it will be appreciated that it is very helpful in working' ordinary crossword puzzles. I have also found that the device provides a ready vehicle for teaching spelling to children, since it consists of attractive moving elements that are easily handled and understood. It may also be noted that the device may -be formed to employ more or less than the six illustratedY strips 14, as desired. 1

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explain and illustrate my invention, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, except insofar Yas the appended claims are so limited, since those skilled in the art who have my disclosure-before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A word forming device comprising a plurality of elongate elements each having a front side and a rear side, said'elements each bearing the letters of the alphabet onv their front sides, a holder element formed with a pair of perforations for receiving each of said elongate elements, with the respective strips extending over the rear surface of the holder element between the margins of the holder element and the perforations of each pair of perforations and passing through the respective perforations to overlie the front surface of the holder element extending therebetween, said perforations positioning said elongate elements in substantial parallel relation, and a cover element adaptedy to be positioned over the front surface of said Yholder element and the portions of said elongate elements that extend through and between the respective perforations and overlie said front surface of said holder element, said cover element being fixed to said holder element and being formed with a perforation aligned with each of said elongate elements, said cover element perforations each being of a Size to expose a single alphabet letter, said elongate elements being substantially longer in length than the dimension of the portion of said holder element over which they extend, and

vsaid alphabet letters terminating a substantial distance short of each end of the respective elongate elements.

2. The article of manufacture comprising an elongate strip of relatively stiff material having a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced apart cutting lines formedV ont` one face thereof along one side of the strip and having the letters of the alphabet formed thereon between the respective lines in alphabetical order, said strip `having a transversely extending fold line formed thereon adjacent the middlethereof, said strip being formed with a single Y row of perforations on one side of said fold line and two rows of perforations on the other `side of said fold line,

said rows of perforations extending generally parallelr to said cutting lines and being spaced therefrom, said rows of said other side of said fold line being positionedl on either side of said singlev row transversely of said strip, said perforations all being of substantially the same size and the distance between said cutting lines being substantiallyequal to the width of said perforations.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

